Mike is a retired stock broker, and now published author of Gold Rush!. In addition, he is a freelance writer specializing in real estate, personal finance and home decor now writing from San Miguel, Mexico.

James Turk writes that the Dollar is in freefall and uses this chart as evidence:

I don’t know if you can have a head-and-shoulders formation that spans 14 or 15 years, but breaking 80 would sure be ominous. Meanwhile gold and silver in terms of the USD look like “up” is a long ways away.

An experimental blood test for prostate cancer may help eliminate tens of thousands of unnecessary biopsies at the same time that it detects many tumors that are now missed by the test commonly used, its developers said yesterday.

PSA, the current test, measures a protein normally produced by the prostate, while the experimental one, called EPCA-2, detects a chemical made principally in cancerous tissue.

A friend of mine undergoes a biopsy of his prostate every six to 12 months because his PSA is high. This test conceivably could do away with this painful procedure.

Once I turned 50, my doctor and I talked about my prostate and how best to monitor my health. We both decided that the digital exam was best and decided not to have the PSA test. The consequences of a high PSA number almost requires a biopsy and treatment if the biopsy reveals abnormalities. Then when I turned 62 we decided to have a PSA test. My first test was in June of 2006 and I tested a 5.2. That is on the higher end and the doctor suggested a biopsy. I decided that we had no baseline, that I would prefer to be tested in six months. I recognized that if the PSA was signaling a rapidly growing cancer, I could be in serious trouble in six months, but I decided to take the chance.

I recently had the second PSA test and it came back as a 6.2. No arguments from me. When can we schedule the biopsy? Last Wednesday I went for the procedure. The doc took 10 samples and today we discussed the results. Two of the ten came back as 3-3. I have Prostate Cancer.

The BIG C. Chevrolet Cranberries, Chocolate Chowder, Carborundum Chanticleer, Carpathian Corruption, Chinese Chop Suey, Capitalistic Carnivale, Commission Charlie! The “C” is just a letter, but one that brings dread. I’m okay so far, however my wife and I will have to decide on the correct treatment over the next 30 days. The choices are: monitor and do nothing for six months or a year, then another biopsy; radiation, either external or with implanted radioactive seeds or remove the prostate entirely. All have risks of incontinence and loss of sexual function and a variety of side effects.

Prostate cancer is becoming common in men my age. What has been your experience and what was your decision? Lastly, how are you doing today?

trading

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